Power-generating mechanism



L. W. BEAVEN. POWER GENERAHNG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8. 1917- 1,336,188, Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- KZZQW By W v 6 L. W. BEAVEN. POWER GENERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 8. I917. 1,336,188.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 ENTOR.

ATTORN s.

L. W. BEAVEN.

POWER GENERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a, 1911.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

-4 SHEETSSHEET 3- WNQRN QRN RN WI TNESSES:

L. W. BEAVEN. POWER GENERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 8, 1912.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

I ITZYLSISESfi/WZ I" LESLIE WALLACE BEAVEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

POWER-GENERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Application filed February 8, 1917. Serial No. 147,409.

My objects are to accomplish a greater conservation of energy occasioned by the oxidation of the fuel through the utilization of a greater quantity of the heat liberated by the oxidation. In the conservation of the heat of oxidation, the temperature of the resulting products is materially reduced so that uiliiculties of lubrication at comparatively high temperatures are avoided. Other ob jects of my present invention are the automatic injection of fuel into the explosive chamber; the automatic injection of a heat absorbing and expansible fluid into the products of combustion; the provision of an accumulator for equalizing or compensating the kinetic action of the separate explosions; the provision of pressure cushioning devices in both the fuel feed and heat conserving expansible fluid feed; and an ef fective arrangement of power and compression cylinders for eli'ectuating and utilizing the power obtained by the oxidation of the fuel.

I attain the foregoing objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure l is a longitudinal elevation of my power generating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the expansion and compression cylinders Fig. 4C is a central section of the explosive chamber and valves associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of the accumulator Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 8, showing the modification of the compression cylinders employing puppet valves;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 8, similar to Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of a modification of the compression cylinders employing puppet valves; and

Fig. 9 is a central vertical section through one of the compression cylinders shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail elevation of the fluid t'uel tube and upstanding pressure cushioning dome and check valve.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The series of events or operations to be accomplished by the mechanism hereafter to be described, are, briefly statechthe compression of the air; the movement of the compressed air through suitable conduits to the inlet port of the combustion chamber; the opening of the inlet valve of the combustion chamber by the compressed air. and the entry or the compressed air into the combustion chamber; the injection of liquid fuel into the combustion chamber simultaneously with the admission of the compressed air thereto through the instrumentality of the movement of the inlet valve; the ignition and oxidation of the charge; the opening of the outlet valve of the combustion chamber by or through the expansion of the charge; the flow of the expanded charge to an accumulator; and the injection of water into the products of combustion while they are on their journey to the accumulator. The injection of the water into the hot products of combustion can be advantageously accomplished through the instrumentality of the movement of the outlet valve of the combustion chamber in a similar manner with that employed for the injection of fuel to the combustion chamber. The cycle of operations is closed by conductingthe gases under compression. including the steam generated by the injection of the water into the hot products or" combustion, through suit-able control or throttling devices to an expansion or working cylinder and piston of such a type as that commonly employed with steam. A portion of the power developed by the working cylinder is employed in the compression of the air to be introduced into the combustion chamber.

The mechanism employed in effectuating the above described series of operations will be described in the order of its operation. commencing, however. with the expansion or working cylinder. Two such expansion or working cylinders, A, and B, are advantageously employed, in each of which are provided pistons, A, and B. The pis tons are mounted intermediately upon piston rods, A and B which extend through suitably packed apertures in the opposite ends of the respective cylinders.

Fluid under pressure is admitted to and permitted to exhaust from opposite ends of each cylinder through the instrumentality ofthe ordinary slide valves, A and B carried respectively upon valve rods or valve stems A and 13*, which for economy in space, are mounted in a single or unitary slide valve chest, M Compression cylinders, C, and D, are secured in alinement with the expansion of working cylinders, A, and B, by means of the tie-rods or bolts, E, and F, and the piston rods, A and B extend through suitably packed apertures provided in the adjacent facing ends of the compression cylinders and are secured to pistons, C, and D, mounted within said compression cylinders. The movement of air to and from the compression cylinders, C, and D, may be controlled by slide valves, C and D also mounted in a single or unitary slide valve chest, C and these valve are mounted upon their respective stems, C and D and may be actuated by the valve rods or valve stems, A and B, respectively, through the medium of rocker arms, A and B and links, A, B, C, and D, whereby when valves, A and B are moved in one direction, valves, C and D will be moved in respectively opposite directions. Air is thus admitted into the compression cylinders through the ports, 0 and D usually employed for exhaust, and the compressed air is discharged from the compression cylinders through the valve chest, 0*. The control valves for the. compression cylinders should be given a minimum of lap, so that the proper ports will be open respectively during substantially the entire travel of the piston. However, if desired, the movement of air to and from the compression cylinders may be controlled by puppet check valves, C and D as clearly shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9. While the dimensions of the expansion or working and compression cylinders are shown to be the same in the drawings, the bore of the compression cylinders may be smaller or larger than the bore of the expansion or working cylinders, the suitable capacity for the compression cylinders being determined by the size of the combustion chamber.

It .has been found advantageous to pro vide about the casing of the combustion chamber an outer casing or jacket, C, separated therefrom so as to form a compartment, C in which atmospheric air will be heated by radiation from the casing of the combustion chamber, and from which compartment warm or heated air may be drawn through the tube or conduit, C to the inlet ports, C and D of the compression cylinders. A suitable throttle, C is provided in the tube or conduit, C for the manual control of the admission of air to the compression cylinders. The compressed air from the compression cylinders is carried by the tube or conduit, E, to the head, F, of the combustion chamber, G. The head, F, of the combustion chamber is provided centrally with a puppet valve seat, F, from which a valve moves into the combustion chamber for the admission of the compressed air thereto. Back of the valve seat, F, is the inlet port to the combustion chamber which communicates with a compressed air chamber, F in the head, F, and to which air chamber the compressed air is admitted from the tube or conduit, E, through a lateral inlet channel, F

Directly back of the valve seat, F, the head, F, is bored and into the inner end of the bore is seated a guide bushing, F for the valve stem, F of the valve, F which latter cooperates with the valve seat, F, and controls the inlet port to the combustion chamber. The yalve stem guide bushing, F is provided with a suitable packing, F to prevent the escape of pressure around the valve stem. Upon the portion of the valve stem, F which enters the bore, is secured a piston, F and between the piston F and the valve stem guide bushing, F is a coiled expansion (spring, F which returns. the valve, F to its seat after the compressed air has entered the combustion chamber. A fluid fuel tube, F communicates with the portion of the bore in front of the piston, F in which the spring, F is contained, and from this portion of the bore is a channel, F which leads to the valve seat, F. A needle valve, F, is interposed in the channel, F in order to permit the control of the amount of fuel delivered at the valve seat, F. The fluid fuel tube, F is provided with an upstanding pressure cushioning dome, F

back of which in the fluid fuel tube is a check valve, F. It will now be seen that when the valve, F opens into the combustion chamber, the piston, F will force fuel through the fuel duct, F, to the fuel orifice in the valve seat and cause the injection of trated an ordinary spark plug, H, which is screwed into a bore in the wall of the combustion chamber, G, and the outer end of which extends through a suitable aperture in the perforated jacket, C and any convenient source of current and mechanism for the synchronization of the spark may be employed and is therefore not illustrated.

The combustion chamber is preferably cylindrical and opposite the head, F, is provided a head, J. The heads, F, and J, are held to the opposite ends of the combustion chamber or cylinder, G, by means of ordinary tie-rods or bolts, G.

The head, J, is similar to, but the ends thereof are oppositely arranged to the head and parts of the head, F. Centrally of the head, J, is provided the exhaust or outlet port, J, from the combustion chamber which is adapted to be closed by a puppet valve, J which moves into a chamber, J provided in the head, J. Back of the outlet port of the combustion chamber, the head, J, is bored and in the outer end of this bore is provided a valve stem guide bushing, J which is provided with suitable packing devices, J, to prevent the escape of pressure from around the valve stem. Provided intermediately of the valve stem is a piston, J which works in the bore, and a coiled spring, X, is provided around the valve stem between the guide bushing, J and the piston, J so as to return the valve, J to its seat after, the products of combustion have opened the valve, J and entered the chamber, J from the combustion chamber. A lateral passageway, J leads from the chamber, J through suitable conduits, K, to an accumulator, L. A conduit, J, for water or other expansible fluid, enters the bore be tween the valve stem guide bushing, J and the piston, J. This conduit, J, is pro vided with a check valve, J, and between the check valve and the bore is provided an upstanding pressure cushioning dome, J. From the bore leads a channel, J the outer end of which is controlled by a puppet valve, J yieldingly held upon its seat against the pressure developed in the bore by a spring, J From behind the valve, J leads a conduit, J forwardly and adjacent the lateral passage, J and connect ing with the bore of the passage, J", is a reticulated stub tube, J which extends into the lateral passageway, J and the conduit, K, leading to the accumulator.

It will now be seen that when the combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber opens the valve, J the piston will be forced into the bore and will force the fluid contained therein through the passage, J past the valve, J through the passage, J and through and from the reticulated stub tube, J into the heated products of combustion that are passing through the lateral passage, J and tube or conduit, K. The

amount of water or other fluid which passes to the reticulated stub tube, J is controlled by controlling the tension of the spring, J by means of the set screw, J, and any excess of water or other fluid is forced into the upstanding pressure cushioning dome, J, from which it is forced back into the valve stem bore when the piston, J is returned to its normal position by the action of the spring, X. The kinetic impulse from the respective explosions is largely absorbed in the accumulator, L, which receives both the products of combustion and the steam generated by the injection of the fluid into the products of combustion. The accumulator is preferably spherical and formed of the hemispherical members, l7, and L and to conserve the heat, the accumulator is lined with a lagging, L which is held in position by a thin inner shell, L. From the accumulator leads a conduit, M, to the steam slide valve chest, M of the compression cylinders, A, and B.

A suitable thermostatically operated valve, M, may be interposed in the conduit, M, which controls the )assage of pressure fluid therethrough if the temperature of such pressure fluid rises to a point where it would be inadvisable to use the same in the expansion cylinders. A hand valve or throttle, M is also interposed in the conduit, M, for the manual control of the flow of pressure fluid to the working cylinders, A, and B, and the throttle, M may be advanta geously connected by means of a link, M with the throttle, C which controls the flow of warm air to the compression cylinders, so that as the consumption of fluid under pressure is reduced, the amount of air flowing to the compression cylinders will be reduced in a like ratio.

1 have herein illustrated and described certain specific means for carrying out my invention, which it will be obvious to others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, may be modified or refined with-- out materially departin from the spirit of my invention. 1 thererore desire it understood that all such changes or refinements are included within the scope of my invention as expressed in the appended claims.

lVhat I claim as new is 1. A power generating mechanism comprising incans for generating pressure, an explosion chamber into which the compressed fluid therefrom is fed, means for feeding a fuel to said chamber, which fuel together with the compressed fluid will form an explosive mixture in said chamber, means for causing the detonation of said mixture in said chamber, an accumulator communicating wi h said explosion chamber, devices for spraying fluid to the exploded gases in transit between said explosion chamber and said accumulator, and an expansion device actuated by the gases from said accumulator and operatively connected with and adapted .to actuate said pressure generating means.

2. In a power generating mechanism, an explosion chamber, inlet and outlet valves therefor, and means actuated by the opening of said inlet valve for injecting fuel into said chamber.

8. In a power generating mechanism, an explosion chamber, inlet and outlet passageways leading to and from said chamber, valves controlling said passageways, devices for feeding fuel to said chamber, and means actuated by the movement of one of said valves for in ecting fluid into said outlet passageway.

In a power generating mechanism, an explosion chamber, inlet and outlet passageways leading to and from said chamber, valves controlling said passageways, devices for feeding fuel to said chamber, and means actuated by the movement of said outlet valve for injecting fluid into said outlet passageway.

In a power generating mechanism, an explosion chamber, inlet and outlet valves therefor, means actuated by the movement of one of said valves for injecting fuel into said chamber, and devices for injecting fluid into the products of combustion.

6. In a power generating mechanism, an explosion chamber, inlet and outlet passageways leading to and from said chamber, valves controlling said passageways, means actuated by the movement of said inlet valve for injecting fuel into said chamber, and devices actuated by the movement of said outlet valve for injecting fluid into said outlet passageway.

T. A power generating mechanism comprising means for generating pressure, an explosion chamber into which the compressed fluid therefrom is fed, a valve controlling the inlet to said explosion chamber, means actuated by the movement of said inlet valve for injecting fuel into said chamher, an accumulator communicating with said chamber, a valve controlling the outlet from said chamber, devices actuated by the movement of said outlet valve for injecting fluid into the exploded gases, and an expansion device actuated by the gases from said accumulator and operatively connected with and adapted to actuate said pressure generating means.

8. In a power generating mechanism, an explosion chamber, inlet and outlet passageways leading to and from said chamber, valves controlling said passageways, means actuated by the movement of said inlet valve for injecting fuel into said chamber, devices actuated by the movement of said outletvalve for injecting fluid into said outlet passageway, and means for controlling the quantity of fuel so injected.

9. In a power generating mechanism, an explosion chamber, inlet and outlet passageways leading to and from said chamber, valves controlling said passageways, means actuated by the movement of said inlet valve for injecting fuel into said chamber. devices actuated by the movement of said outlet valve for injecting fluid into said outlet passageway, and means for controlling the quantity of fluid. so injected.

10. In a power generating mechanism, an explosion chamber, inlet and outlet valves therefor, fluid feeding pistons respectively actuated by the movements of said valves, cylinders in which said pistons reciprocate, fluid conduits for supplying said cylinders, and pressure cushioning domes interposed in said fluid conduits.

11. In a power generating mechanism, an explosion chamber, inlet and outlet valves therefor, fluid feeding pistons respectively actuated by the movements of said valves, cylinders in which said pistons work, fluid conduits for supplying said cylinders, check valves in said fluid conduits, and pressure cushioning domes in said fluid conduits interposed between said cylinders and said check valves.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cool; and State of Illinois, this 5th day of Februar 1917.

LESLIE VALLACE BEAVEN. Witnesses:

Finn) BEAVEN,

BENJ. T. Roonnonsn. 

